In-between

Chapter 2: Reflections

You wake up in a unfamiliar place.

Where are you? You wonder.

You look around only to see what looks like a abandoned city, you stand up. Huh, why aren't you wet? Considering the water surrounding you it was a surprise. But you don't question it, nothing good ever comes from it.

Playing with the water spirits you hum a simple tune. It somehow sounds bittersweet.

As you were walking further in more of the structures appeared. The structures looked like dilapidated ancient Japanese houses, with the overhangs and the bridges that were everywhere, and below the bridges at the very bottom was water that seemed deep. You noticed the lotus flowers floating in the water, as for above, it was pitch black had it not been for the floating lanterns everywhere.

You look down at the water from where you are.

*The water reflects the lanterns floating in the sky. It looks pretty.

You observe again.

*You notice the lack of reflection. You pay it no mind.

You walk even further in, taking in the messy beauty of this abandoned place. Although you wonder where the exit is. But it doesn't matter for now, after all in the end it doesn't really matter.

You go in one of the buildings, and as expected, it was empty or so you thought. You look at the corner, and you see a small bag enough to carry your things.

You politely ask one of the spirits if they could give you the shiny stone. They agree, swimming in circles they give it to you. You thank them.

You get out of the house, and spot something black move, you run to follow it. Spotting it again, you identify it as a black cat, you try petting it but it runs away. Oh well, you hope to meet the black cat again soon.

You walk across bridges, relaxed and at peace. Because truly, there is something about the haunting peace of being lost.

You walk into another building, there you find a pocket mirror. You take it, because sometimes being selfish is alright.

You walk out the building, and continue walking, and walking, and walking. You sit down on one of the higher bridges and take in the view of the place. Although its messy and gravity clearly doesn't apply here it still seems so pretty and beautiful. You look at scenery before you.

"It really seems so messily beautiful."

Something like that you noted, is hard to come-by. But one thing you note that's like that are the minds of humans, as they are so hopelessly like that. You don't even understand yours.

You stand up as you play with the fishes, the water spirits swimming around you in air. They touch you, yet you aren't wet, you don't question it.

You walk more, strolling by.

You look down at the water once again.

*The water glimmers and shine, the lotus flowers floating atop of it gives it a nice appearance.

You look at the water, squinting your eyes.

*It glimmers under the floating lanterns light.

You look at the water for the last time.

*You see yourself, smiling at you. You blink, it's gone.

You feel a chill down your spine, you brush it off as something random. You think to yourself, if you don't acknowledge It, it shouldn't be able to bother you. After all there are rules for a reason.

You try to smile, it makes you feel awkward, you stop and revert back to your deadpan face.

You hum a tune again.

The water spirits swim around you playfully seemingly liking the tune.

You look at the flower in your hair. It hasn't wilted yet, you noted. It's strange but you pay it no mind, after all its better than a wilted flower.

Your hand is on the red wall, the texture is nice you noted.

You smell a nice aroma from inside, you go in out of curiosity. You see fresh steamed buns on the stable of the building.

You ignore it and go off on your way.

It's not for you, and even if it is for you, it's not without a favor. The world is not so kind to give something for free, there is a reason give and take exists.

But sometimes it takes more than they gave.

You keep your pace and walk. The water spirits around you swim around leisurely, albeit a bit on guard.

You somehow end up in another building, you don't question it. The world has many ways.

You see a mirror in-front of you, you blink and somehow you have a reflection now. It's not your reflection. You don't trust it.

It smiles at you.

For the first time in a long time you make an expression. You frown.

The reflection seems amused. You are very much not amused.

"Tell me child, why did you not accept the steamed buns?"

You only frowned in response, wasn't it obvious?

The reflection only smiled, eyes curving up. It seems to human, with how it looks and how it acts. Yet you know it isn't, it's to human to be one. Too uncanny. It smiles unsettlingly, and looks at you.

"Why isn't this interesting, you seem to like to observe."

You frown in response again, what does it mean? You were the only one here.

It smiles, as if getting it.

It looks at you again observing you.

"Child, tell me. Why do you feel so loved yet so alone?"

You try opening your mouth, you can't.

Something is restricting you.

"Ah-"

You black out.

-

It stares at you.

"So only a mere observer huh?" it mumbles.